AASHTO M247 Glass Beads

AASHTO M247 Glass Beads

Glass beads are an essential highway safety ingredient that helps drivers to see pavement markings more clearly at night.aashto m247 glass beads Glass bead reflectors embedded within a traffic paint can enhance the visibility of the markings by reflecting the incoming headlight beams back to the vehicle driving ahead. This reflective material is also important in reducing highway mortality owing to lane departure accidents. Currently, glass beads complying with AASHTO M247 regulations are the industry standard for providing cost effective retroreflective performance.

These beads are typically made from reclaimed glass cullet that is derived from a variety of sources such as residential glassware (cathode ray tubes from televisions, windowpanes, stained glass, and incandescent bulbs), window glass from vehicles, and commercial and industrial glassware. Some of these feedstocks contain heavy metals such as arsenic and lead that can pass through the manufacturing process into the final recycled glass bead products used throughout the transportation sector.

Two existing studies have reported on the composition and leachability of heavy metals found in glass beads. However, the representativeness of the sample sets examined in comparison with the actual glass bead inventories in use within commerce was unknown. Therefore, the present study was conducted to evaluate the total, extractable, and bioaccessible arsenic and lead content in glass bead samples provided by State transportation departments and their relationship with the retroreflective performance of the beads.

Additionally, the abrasion resistance of four commonly used types of glass bead was tested. A visual correlation between the damage to surface reflectivity and the amount of abrasion was observed. The results from this abrasion testing were used to predict service lives, which are defined as the length of time during which the retroreflective properties remain at acceptable levels.

Our company specializes in the production and sales of high quality aashto m247 glass beads. Our beads are made from a high-temperature melting through flame floating process. They are colorless, transparent microspheres with diameters ranging from 90 to 1,400 microns. They can be supplied in accordance with the requirements of different countries and regions, such as BS6088/EN1423/1424. Besides, our beads are available with hydrophobic coating or adhesion coating at the customers' request. We also offer customized production according to customers' needs. Our products are mainly exported to Europe, America and Asia. We hope to establish long-term business relations with our clients. To learn more about our products or to place an order, please contact us today.

Tags:premix glass beads | road marking glass beads